October 2007 Department Meeting Notes

1. We will sign out all videos (Kept in Ted’s room).
2. Send any comprehension questions or activities you design around any of the department videos, so Ted can post them online.
3. Essential Questions – Everyone is going to look at the existing essential questions and begin thinking about designing Overarching Essential Questions that transcend or apply to each grade level and historical era. (Review our current curriculum online (click here (for the record, most essential questions published in the current curriculum were not designed by the committee)) and review this graphic organizer (click here) as a possibility)
4. Tracey Whitehead presents: Immigration Unit guided by essential questions. (Click here: Using Essential Questions...handout)
5. Debrief/Discussion: conversation on how to develop essential questions and see patterns within the curriculum to facilitate implementation. (There’s too much to teach in the time allocated, so how do we simplify it based on themes/essential questions?)